Published ahead of print on April 13, 2006, doi:10.1164/rccm.200601-079OC
© 2006 American Thoracic Society doi: 10.1164/rccm.200601-079OC
Transcription Factors T-bet and GATA-3 Regulate Development of Airway RemodelingDepartments of Respiratory Medicine and Nephrology, Institute of Clinical Medicine; Laboratory Animal Resource Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Yukio Ishii, M.D., Ph.D., Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan. E-mail: ishii-y{at}md.tsukuba.ac.jp Rationale: Airway remodeling is an important feature of chronic asthma that causes irreversible airflow obstruction. Although asthma is considered to be a Th2 disease, the role of T-bet and GATA-3, the key transcription factors for differentiation toward Th1 and Th2 cells, in the pathogenesis of airway remodeling is poorly understood. Objectives: We therefore examined the effects of GATA-3 or T-bet induction of Th1/Th2 bias on the development of airway remodeling in mice. Methods: The development of airway remodeling after repeated allergen challenges was analyzed using transgenic mice overexpressing either GATA-3 or T-bet.
Main Results: The degrees of subepithelial fibrosis and airway smooth muscle hyperplasia after repeated allergen exposure were significantly enhanced in mice overexpressing GATA-3, compared with wild-type mice. Allergen-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion were significantly lower in mice overexpressing T-bet than in wild-type mice. Eosinophilic airway inflammation increased in mice overexpressing GATA-3, but decreased in mice overexpressing T-bet after repeated allergen exposure. Cytokine analysis revealed that the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance shifted to Th2 in lung homogenates and lung T cells of mice overexpressing GATA-3, whereas this balance shifted to Th1 in those of mice overexpressing T-bet after allergen exposure. Lung transforming growth factor- Conclusions: Overall, the results indicate that development of airway remodeling is regulated by the lung Th1/Th2 bias induced by GATA-3 and T-bet.
Key Words: asthma • cytokines • GATA-3 • T-bet • T lymphocytes This article has been cited by other articles:
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and eotaxin levels were associated with the degree of subepithelial fibrosis and eosinophilic airway inflammation, respectively. 
